Russia to continue cooperating with Council of Europe despite PACE crisis – envoy

11.02.2019

11.02.2019

Moscow continues actively cooperating with the Council of Europe despite differences over its Parliamentary Assembly related to restrictions on Russian delegation’s participation, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe Ivan Soltanovsky said.

“The crisis at PACE is unfortunately affecting the activity of other structures of the Council of Europe and intergovernmental cooperation in the framework of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. But we continue rather intense cooperation in this body in various areas,” the diplomat said.

This includes joint work in combating crime, fighting against terror, money laundering and corruption. “Among new areas, which are opening here, and where we could make our big intellectual contribution, I would call bioethics and artificial intelligence,” Soltanovsky said.

Russia’s cooperation in sports helped Moscow restore the rights of the Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), he noted.